Round 14: Broncos v Raiders preview
Two form sides meet when Brisbane host Canberra
The Brisbane Broncos will host the Canberra Raiders this Saturday night at Suncorp Stadium. With both of these teams hitting some serious form recently, both sides will be confident that they can come away with the two points this weekend.
For the Raiders, fortunes have really turned in the past month or so. Having only lost one of their past five games, the Raiders are now only two points outside the top eight despite their poor start to the season. With young fullback Xavier Savage starting to find his feet in first grade, Canberra fans can be hopeful for what the second half of this season may bring.
Last Sunday was a massive game for Canberra, going up against a Roosters side that had a lot to prove. But on a freezing afternoon in Canberra, the Raiders finished up 22-16 victors in a tough, close game. Canberra's defence in the dying stages was something that their coach, Ricky Stuart, would have been proud of, with the Roosters hunting down an equaliser right up until the final siren.
Slightly tainting this important victory was the charging of Jordan Rapana and Zac Woolford. Rapana came away with a one match suspension, and his place will be taken by James Schiller on the wing. Woolford escaped the judiciary without suspension.
With the first State of Origin clash happening on Wednesday night, Canberra will be hoping that their stars Josh Papalii and Jack Wighton escape from the game without injury. They have both been named to back-up for Saturday's match, but whether they actually play still remains to be seen.
For the Brisbane Broncos, a streak has been building. With six wins in a row, a run that started back in Round 7 against the Bulldogs, they'll be confident that they can make it seven straight this Sunday. Coming off a bye, the Brisbane playing cohort should be feeling refreshed unlike the Raiders side who don't have their bye until Round 17.
The Broncos will be buoyed by the return of their halfback Adam Reynolds, who was named on Tuesday afternoon to start in the halves, alongside young gun Ezra Mam. Mam holds his spot over Tyson Gamble, and has been showing real promise for Brisbane throughout his first games of first grade.
The Broncos have a number of players involved in Origin on Wednesday night. With young winger Selwyn Cobbo making his Origin debut, Kurt Capewell is also expected to line up in the Maroons jersey come Wednesday. Thomas Flegler is also a part of the Queensland camp. Those expected to line up for the Blues include star centre Kotoni Staggs, and prop Payne Haas, who has been making headlines in recent weeks. Brisbane will be hoping that many of these players can back-up from Origin and play a role in their game this Sunday.
The Broncos haven't beaten Canberra since 2018.
Last meeting: Round 14 2021 - Raiders 38 Broncos 16
Who to watch: Payne Haas has been named to back up from Origin on Wednesday, and is expected to play in front of what has shown to be a hostile crowd at Suncorp. Two weeks ago, he was booed by his own fans at his home ground - a reaction to reports that he was requesting an immediate release from Red Hill. With the media still swirling, his performance this Saturday could be important in silencing critics and getting the fans back on board.
After making his NRL debut in Round 10, Zac Woolford has kept his spot at hooker locked down. With Tom Starling named to come off the bench yet again, there are still questions over how many minutes Woolford will get. Starting the 2022 season at the Newtown Jets, he entered the Canberra system in Round 6, playing off the bench in reserve grade. Spending five years in the NSW Cup, he will be looking to keep his NRL spot, especially with Josh Hodgson leaving the club at the end of the 2022 season.
The favourite: The Brisbane Broncos are the favourites to extend their winning run and to keep their top four spot.
My tip: With all the form and a possible Reynolds return on the cards, Brisbane should get this one done. Broncos by 8.
